Man City ‘cannot believe’ Manchester United have landed Omar Berrada as their new CEO

Rio Ferdinand has revealed that staff within Manchester City ‘cannot believe’ Manchester United have managed to snag Omar Berrada as their new CEO.

City confirmed Berrada’s departure on Saturday, with the Spaniard resigning from his role with the treble winners to move across town to become United’s new chief executive.

Berrada had spent the last nine years at the Etihad Stadium, the last three-and-a-half of which had been spent as City’s chief football operations officer.

“Manchester City Football Club can confirm that Omar Berrada has resigned from his role as chief football operations officer at City Football Group,” the Blues said in a statement.

“The club understands his decision to look for a new challenge and he leaves with our thanks and best wishes.”

Berrada could be one of Manchester United’s ‘best signings’

United had been searching for a new CEO after Richard Arnold announced his decision to step down from the position ahead of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS group acquiring a 25 per cent stake in the club.

The new minority owners were keen to appointment someone with extensive experience in football after the previous two chief executives – Arnold and Ed Woodward – had banking backgrounds. They have found their man in Berrada, who also spent eight years at Barcelona before joining the City group.

United great Ferdinand says that the people he has spoken to within City have been left stunned by the move.

“I spoke to some guys who are at City and they cannot believe we’ve got him,” Ferdinand said on his FIVE podcast.

“They think, wow… He’s done so much in the game at different levels and he’s been successful and it’s a really good, sharp signing for us.

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“I think this could potentially be one of our best January signings. From the current climate where we’re at now especially.”

Though Berrada cannot officially assume his role until the summer, United appear excited about the announcement.

In a statement, the club said: “The club is determined to put football and performance on the pitch back at the heart of everything we do. Omar’s appointment represents the first step on this journey.

“As one of the most experienced football executives at the top of European football, Omar brings a wealth of football and commercial expertise, with a proven record of successful leadership and a passion to help lead change across the club. He is currently serving as Chief Football Operations Officer for City Football Group overseeing 11 clubs across five continents and, prior to this, held senior roles at Barcelona.

“It is our stated ambition to re-establish Manchester United as a title-winning club. We are pleased that Omar will be joining us to help achieve that goal, so that, once again, United fans can see, in the words of Sir Matt Busby, the red flag flying high at the summit of English, European and world football.”